Team Members
Surgeons
 Matt
L. Kirkland, MD, FACS
Dr. Matt L. Kirkland is the director of Pennsylvnia Hospital’s Bariatric Surgery Program and a clinical associate professor of surgery. He attended Thomas Jefferson Medical College, and completed his surgical residency at Pennsylvania Hospital. He specializes in gastrointestinal surgery, as well as oncologic surgery, specifically cancer of the breast, colon, and pancreas. In addition, he maintains a very busy bariatric surgery practice, is well known in this field, and was the first surgeon to perform bariatric surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Kirkland is board-certified in general surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
 Alan
L. Schuricht, MD, FACS
Dr. Alan L. Schuricht is the residency program
director for Pennsylvania Hospital’s Department
of Surgery and is a clinical associate professor
of surgery. Board-certified in general surgery
and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons,
Dr. Schuricht has a strong clinical interest in
laparoscopic surgery for many disease states,
including weight loss surgery. He has written
numerous papers on cancer and laparoscopic issues,
and has lectured and trained surgeons in surgical
techniques locally, regionally and internationally.
 David
S. Wernsing, MD, FACS
Dr. David S. Wernsing is a clinical assistant
professor of surgery. He graduated from Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School and completed his
surgical residency at Pennsylvania Hospital. He
is one of the area leaders in promoting minimally
invasive surgery for the treatment of cancers
of the abdomen and in its use in general surgery.
Additionally, he maintains a busy bariatric practice
and has been instrumental in improving bariatric
(obesity) surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr.
Wernsing is board-certified in general surgery
and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Program Coordinator
Jim Henry, BS, RD, LDN
Jim graduated from Rutgers University with a nutrition degree and went on to complete a dietetic internship at Stony Brook University. Jim started his career with Pennsylvania Hospital in 2005 as the bariatric program dietitian. During this time, he prepared patients for the nutritional changes required after bariatric surgery, led the development of the medical weight management program, and co-led patient support groups. In 2007, Jim was named bariatric program coordinator and works closely with the bariatric surgeons and the hospital to advance the comprehensive, multifaceted, dynamic bariatric program at Pennsylvania Hospital. Jim also evaluates and educates patients and families about bariatric surgery and provides support and coordination in all phases of treatment.
Program Dietitian
Nina Deats, MA, RD, LDN, CDE
Nina Deats has been a registered dietitian for over 10 years. She graduated from Immaculata University with a Masters in Nutrition Education (MA). Nina is also certificated as a Diabetes Educator (CDE). As the bariatric dietitian, Nina provides clinical counseling by co-leading the patient support groups, teaching nutrition classes prior to surgery and monitoring patients’ postoperative nutritional status in coordination with the bariatric surgeons. She also coordinates the pre-surgery medical weight management program and provides nutrition counseling for all Pennsylvania Hospital bariatric patients.
Outpatient Nurse Practitioner
Marie Arbutina MSN, CRNP
Marie Arbutina is a certified registered adult nurse practitioner. She attended West Chester University where she completed her nursing degree. Marie later went on to University of Pennsylvania where she completed a masters in nursing. She is a registered nurse and a certified registered nurse practitioner in the state of Pennsylvania. Her background includes medical, surgical, geriatric and intensive care nursing. She has been with Penn Medicine for five years.
Psychologists
- Michael
P. Kowitt, PhD, ABPP
- Jody
F. Foster, MD, MBA
- Pamela Becker, PsyD
(Inpatient Unit)
- Primary Interests: Psychodynamic psychotherapy,
adolescent, child/family and health psychology
- Reed Goldstein, PhD
(Inpatient Unit)
- Primary interests: Psychodynamic psychotherapy;
interpersonal therapy; neuropsychological
and psychological assessment; treatment
and research in the relationship between
depression and medical illness; research
in depression and personality disorder
- Geoffrey Margo, MD (Consult/Liaison
Service)
Clinical Associate Professor, University of
Pennsylvania
- Primary interests: Psychiatry-medicine
interface; psychodynamic psychotherapy
Physical Therapy
Specially trained physical therapists are here
to help you. Your doctor or nurse will let the
physical therapists know if you need their help
moving around and getting out of bed.
Social Worker
Specially trained social workers are available
to help you if you have special needs relating
to your hospitalization. Some issues of concern
include:
- Assistance for the visually impaired while
in the hospital
- Coordination of home care services, medical
equipment or transportation
- Referrals to skilled or extended care facilities
- Other community resources
Social workers can help you determine what your
insurance benefits will cover, and help you obtain
necessary services.
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